Cone feeding mechanism



Oct. 15, 1935. w. s. wHn-ING, JR 2,017,521

GONE FEEDING' MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1934 @NE FEEDING William s. JT., CBBQE, N. c., ,5mn

to The Con Fibre n N. C., a corporation of ohio Application Msi-ch s, 19st,

f. No. nai

1s claims. (ci. si)

may be delivered singly or individually to a point of use as desired.

While the invention ilnds its principal application as a means for feeding paper cones, such as are used in textile industries, to a finishing machine or the like, it is not restricted thereto but may be employed in other relations wherein it is desired individually to advance conically shaped hollow articles from a stack thereof to a point of use. 'I'he organization is adapted for automatic operation.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus ofthe above-mentioned which shall function to hold the stack of cones while releasing the lowermost cone of the stack and positively disengaging the latter from -said stack and feeding the same to a point of use.

The above, and other, objects of invention are attained by an organization to be described in detail in the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus forming the basis of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a cone feeding mechanism embodying the invention. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mechanism taken on line C-C of Figure 1, showing the relative position of the plurality of latch fingers and snatch springs employed. Figure 3 is a vertical section on line l A-A of Figure 2, showing the position of the snatch springs with respect to a stack of cones; while'Figure 4 is a section on line B-B of Figure 2, showing the position and mode of operation of the latch fingers. In the drawing, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Broadly considered, the apparatus forming the basis of the present invention comprises a suitable chute for receiving nested cones, combined means for normally maintaining a nest of cones in one position with respect to the chute and for freeing the lowermost cone from the nest and delivering the so-freed cone, by gravity, to a point of use while maintaining the remaining cones of the nest in the normal position in the chute, and means for imparting operative movement to said combined means. In this assembly, the combined means may and preferably does include a latch means at least one portion of which extends through the wall of the chute and into engaging relation with at least the lowermost cone of the nest, said latch means, preferably an osclllatable latch pivoted to the chute, having on that portion of it which extends into the interior of the chute a lug having a shoulder, said portion being 5 characterized more specifically in that it includes a detent surface, the aforesaid lug, and a second detent surface constituting the shoulder surface of said lug.

The above-described latch means functions as follows: when the same is in normal" (i. e., nonoscillated) position its first-mentioned detent surfaceengages and supports the lowermost of the nest of cones and hence the whole nest. As the latch means is oscillated its lug engages the upper edge of the lowermost cone, exerting a downwardpressure thereon. At the same time, the oscillation brings the shoulder surface of said lug into supporting engagement withthe next to the lowermost cone. A v

The aforesaid latch means may be, and preferably is, pivotally attached to the exterior of said chute, there being provided in one portion of the latter at least one aperture through which the cone-engaging portion of the latch means extends.

For -insuringpositive release of the lowermost cone from the nest thereof and delivery of the same, by gravity, to a point of use, I may, and preferably do, provide on said operative movement-imparting means a snatch spring adapted to contact with the upper edge of the lowermost cone and to impart to the latter a positive downward pull. Where the said movement-imparting means "is located outside said chute, I provide an aperture in the wall of the latter through which a portion of said snatch spring extends in contacting relationship to the lowermost cone of the nest.

A specific apparatus embodying my invention preferably comprises, in combination, a. suitable housing i as the chute for the stack of cones to be disposed therein in substantially vertically nested arrangement and with theiry mouths upward, said housing providing therein an upper stack-retaining zone a, an intermediate cone-dispensing zone b and a lower cone-feeding or delivering zone c, and being apertured in its intermediate zone as at 2, 2, a cam collar 3 as the operative movement-imparting means aboutthe housing at said intermediate zone, said collarbeing vertically reciprocatable with respect to said housing and being provided with a beveled surface 4 at its top edge, means 5, 5 for vertically reciprocating said collar, a plurality of latch ngers 6, 6, pivotally mounted on the housing l as at l, 1, and a plurality of snatch springs 8, 8, mounted on said cam collar 8. t

The housing I may be, and preferably is, a cylindrical conduit of a diameter to freely confine a stack of cones; it may have any desired and suitable longitudinal dimension in its upper zone a and in its lowerzone c, and may be curved (as is indicated in the drawing in zone'c) to accommodate the apparatus to the whole organization of which it may be a part. As shown in the drawing it is pierced in its intermediate zone b by eight vertical slots or apertures diametrically in pairs, said slots to accommodate four snatch springs 8, 8, and four latch fingers 6,' 6. The snatch springs 9, 8, are mounted upon cam collar 3 in spaced relation 'by means of cap screws 8', 8'. These springs extendsubstantially vertically from the cam collar 3 for a convenient distance, their upper portions being inwardly inclined for entrance throughJ diametrically opposed slots 2, 2, into the interior of housing I and terminating in hooked ends 9, 9. The curvature of the upper portions of snatch spring 8, 8, is such, and their hooked ends 9, 8, are of such relative shape and size, that they may be advanced or slid over the outer surface of a cone and over the upper edge thereof by upward movement of cam collar 3 but will insure that said hooked ends 9, 9, positively engage the upper edge of such cone and exert a downward pull thereon when the cam collar 3 is moved downwardly.

The latch fingers 6, 6, (here shown as being four in number) which are pivotally mounted at their upper ends as by pivots 1, 'Lin diametrically opposed slots 2, 2, of housing Il in spaced relation, present inner surfaces which in their lowermost portions are substantially plane and which, in the normal position of the latch fingers, are substantially parallel with but spaced from the outer -wall of housing I, but which are inwardly curved as at I6, I0, intermediate the ends of said elements to cooperate with and receive actuation from cam collar 3. 'At their upper ends they terminate in beveled surfaces II, II, constituting detent surfaces. At the outer and up'- per ends of said beveled surfaces II, II, are lugs I2l I2, whose shoulder surfaces I3, I3, aresubstantially plane and constitute further detent The bevel of surfaces II, II, is such' surfaces. that when the latch fingers 6, 6, are in substantially vertical (i. e., normal) position, surfaces II, I I contact with and engage the upper portion of the lowermost cone of the stack thereof. The bevel` of lug surfaces I3, I3, is such that said surfaces may contact and engage the next to the lowermost cone ofthe stack when latch fingers 6, 6, are moved to the 6', 6', position by cam collar 3. Y

Cam collar 3 is vertically reciprooated, through pivoted links E, 5, being actuated from any suitable reciprocating means (not shown) timed as to motion to accommodate a desired operation of the entire organization of which the present apparatus maybe a part. The curvature of the curved surface l at the` upper end of cam collar 3 is such that the said cam collar, in its upward movement, can oscillate the latch ngers 6, 6,

linwardly and downwardly whereby to cause the lugs I2, I2 to engage the upper edge of the lowera downward pressure thereon simultaneously moved detent surfaces ii, ii, out of engagement with the lowermost cone and presenting shoulder surfaces I3, I3, for engagement with 5 the next higher cone of the stack whereby to retain the same, and hence the stack of cones, in the intermediate zone b of said housing.

In operation, a stack of nested cones is placed in the upper zone a of housing I, the lowermost 10 cone resting on surfaces II, II, of latch fingers 6, 6, and pivoted links 6, 5, are caused to move the cam collar 3 upwardly and downwardly over a portion of intermediate zone b oi housing I. With each upward movement od the cam collar l5 the latch ngers 6, 6, are moved to position 6', 6', thereby releasing the lowermost cone of the stack.' engaging the upper position of the next lowermost cone and exerting a downward pressure on the upperedge of the lowermost cone; simul- 2o taneously the upward movement of cam collar 3 slides the hooked ends 9, 9, of snatch springs 8, 8, upwardly over the upper edge of the lowermost cone where,'by virtue of the inclination of said springs, the said hooked ends engage the upper 25 edge of said lowermost cone. With downward movement of cam collar 3 the snatch springs 8, 8,

exert a downward pull upon the engaged edge of the lowermost cone, moving the same downwardly out of intermediate zone b and into the 30 delivering zone c through which it may descend by gravity: simultaneously, as cam collar 3 is downwardly moved over curved surfaces I0, I!! of latch ngers 6,- 6, the latter are allowed to return to their so-called normal position, thereby dis- 35 engaging shoulder surfaces- I3, I3 from supporting contact with the now lowermost cone of the stack and engaging the detent surfaces II, II with the said cone whereby to hold the same,

and hence the stack of cones, from moving out 40 of intermediate zone b.

-mensions, and shapes, of thecooperating elements of this device will be determined at least in part by the size and type of cones to -he handled thereby, and that a greater or lesser 55 number of latch iingers and/or of snatch springs may be employed, depending likewise upon the size and type of articles to be dispensed.

I claim:

l; In a cone feeding mechanism, a chute for 60 receiving nested cones and throughwhich same are adaptedto be individually fed to a point of discharge; combined integral. holding and releasing means formed with an inclined detent surface adapted to engage the side of a cone for e5 normally maintaining a nest of conesL in one position with respect to said chute, said means having a lug formed above said detent surface for freeing the lowermost cone from said nest and an inclined shoulder above said lug adapted 70 .to engage the side of a superposed cone for retaining the remainder of said nest meanwhile in said normal position; and means for imparting operative movement to said combined means.

2. In a cone feeding mechanism, a chute for receiving nested cones and through which same are adapted to be individually fed to a point of disch 'rge; combined integral holding and releasin means formed with an inclined detent surface adapted to engage the side of a cone for normally maintaining a nest of cones in one `position with respect to said chute, said means having a lug formed above said detent surface for freeing the lowermost cone from said nest and an inclined shoulder above said lug adapted to engage the side of a superposed cone for' retaining the remainder of said nest meanwhile in said normal position; and means reciprocat-l ably mounted on said chute for imparting operative movement to said combined means.

3. In a cone feeding mechanism, a chute for receiving nested cones and through which same are adapted to be individually fed to a point of discharge, combined integral holding and releasing means having an inclined detent surface for normally maintaining a nest of cones in one position with respect to said chute and including a lug for freeing the lowermost cone from said nest and having a shoulder for retaining the remainder of said nest meanwhile in said normal position, means reciprocatably mounted on said chute for imparting operative movement to said combined means, said movement-imparting means including a snatch spring adapted to contact the lowermost of said nest of cones and to impart to said lowermost cone a downward movement.

4. A mechanism for individually feeding cones from a gravity-influenced nest of cones comprising, in combination, a cylindrical housing adapted to enclose a nest of cones and being longitudinally apertured at one portion thereof, a cam means reciprocatably mounted on said housing adjacent said apertured portion, means for reciprocating said cam means, an integral latch means cooperatively mounted with respect to the longitudinally apertured portion of said housing and capable of oscillatory movement with respect thereto, said latch meanshaving a portion extending within said housing by reason of the latters apertured formation, said portion having vertically spaced inclined detent surfaces adapted for engagement alternately with said nest of cones and provided also with portions operated upon by said cam means, said latch means operable in response to reciprocation of said cam means to free the lowermost cone of said nest and to hold the remainder of said nest against movement longitudinally of said housing, and means carried by said cam means for moving said freed cone longitudinally of said housing.

5. A mechanism for individually feeding cones from a gravity-influenced nest of cones comprising, in combination, a cylindrical housing adapted to enclose a nest of cones and being longitudinally apertured at one portion thereof, a cam means reciprocatably' mounted without said housing and adjacent said apertured portion, means for reciprocating said cam means. an integral latch means cooperatively mounted with respect to -the longitudinally apertured portion of said housing and capable of oscillatory movement with respect thereto, said latch means having vertically spaced inclined detent surfaces extending within said housing by reason of the latters apertured formation for alternate engagement with said nest of cones and provided also with portions operated upon by said cam means, said latch means operable in response to reciprocation of said .cam means to free the lowermost cone of said nest and to hold the remainder of said nest against movement longitudinally of said housing, and means carried bysaid cam means havingl portions ex- 5 tending within said housing by virtue of its apertured formation for moving said freed cone longitudinally of said housing.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 4, in which the cone-moving means carried by said cam means includes a spring.

7. Mechanism as defined in claim 4, in which the cone-moving means carried by said cam l means includes a hook-ended spring.

8. Mechanism as defined in claim 4, in which the cam means includes a collar surrounding said housing.

9. Mechanism as defined in claim 4, in which a plurality of the said latch means are employed.

10. Mechanism as defined in claim 4, .in which said cam means carries a plurality of said conemoving means. i

11. Mechanism as 'defined in claim 4, in which the said latch means is maintained in contact with said cam means by means of a spring.

12. A mechanism for individually feeding cones from a gravity-influenced nest of cones comprising, in combination, a cylindrical housing adapted to enclose a nest of cones and being longitudinally apertured at one portion thereof, a cam a0 collar reciprocatably mounted without said housing and adjacent said apertured portion, means for reciprocating said cam collar, a latch lnger cooperatively mounted with respect to the longitudinally apertured portion of said housing and capable of oscillatory 'movement with respect thereto, said latch finger having vertically spaced inclined portions extending within said housing by reasonl of the latters apertured formation for alternate engagement with said nest 40 of cones and provided also with portions operated upon by said, cam collar, said latch finger being operable inresponse to reciprocation of said cam collar to free the lowermost cone' of said nest and to hold the remainder of said nest against movement longitudinally of said housing, and snatch springs carried by said cam collar and having a portion which extends within said housing by virtue of the latters apertured formation for moving said freed cone longitudinally of said housing.

13. A mechanism for individually feeding cones from a gravity-influenced nest of cones comprising, in combination, a cylindrical housing adapted to enclose a nest of cones and being longitudinally apertured at one portion thereof, a cam collar reciprocatably mounted without said housing and adjacent said apertured portion, means for reciprocating said cam collar, a latch finger cooperatively mounted with respect tothe longitudinally apertured portion of said housing and capable of oscillatory movement with respect thereto, said latch finger having portions extending within said housing by reason of the latters apertured formation for engagement with said nest of cones and provided'aiso with portions operated upon by said cam-collar, said latch iinger being operable in response to reciprocation of said cam collar to free the lowermost cone of said nest and to hold the remainder of said nest against movement longitudinally of said housing, and snatch springs carried by said cam collar and having a portion which extends within said housing by virtue of the latters apertured formation for moving said freed cone lon- 75 gitudinally of said housing, the portionof said oscillatory latch nger which extends within said housing including an inclined detent surface adapted to supportably engage'the side of a cone and a lug thcreabove, said lug being provided with a second inclined detent surface likewise adapted to support a superposed cone of said nest when brought into engagement therewith by oscillation of said latch finger. l

14. A mechanism for feeding textile cones from a gravity influenced nest thereof comprising a cylindrical casing for receiving said nest of cones, said casingv having a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated apertures formed therein, a plurality of latch members pvotally mounted in circumferentially spaced relation on said casing, each of said latch members comprising a one piece body having a portion projecting through one of said elongated apertures into said casing, said projecting portion providing vertically spaced inclined detent surfaces adapted for alternate engagement with a stack of cones in said casing, said latch members having a depending leg portion outside of said casing .and embodying an inwardly directed cam surface, a

sliding cam collar surrounding said casing and adapted for engagement with the cam surfaces of said latch members tolimpart pivotal motion thereto to disengage the lower detent surface from the lowermost cone of said stack and to 5 engage the upper detent surface with the next lowermost cone of said stack.

15. Mechanism for feeding textile cones from a gravity influenced nest thereof including a casing for receiving said nest of cones, a latch 10 member pivotally mounted on said casing for rocking movement in a vertical plane, said latch .member comprising a one piece body providing vertically spaced inclined detent surfaces adapted for alternate engagement with the side face 15 of each cone of a stack thereof in said casing, said latch member having a depending leg portion embodying a cam surface, and reciprocable means adapted for engagement with said cam surface to impart pivotal motion to said latch 20 member to disengage the lower detent surface from the lowermost cone of said stack and to engage the upper detent surface with the next lowermost cone of said stack.

WILLIAM S. WHI'I'ING, JR. 25 

